M. P. Fewell and A. von Trojan, "Absorption of light by water in the region of high transparency: recommended values for photon-transport calculations," Appl. Opt. 58, 2408-2421 (2019)
Prompted by data requirements for photon-transport simulation, we have surveyed measurements of the absorption coefficient of light by water in the wavelength range 171–2000 nm, covering the whole region where the absorption length exceeds 1 mm. Absorption spectra were compiled for pure water, clean seawater, and seawater containing a moderate amount of organic matter. The intensive and detailed nature of the laboratory and at-sea observations leading to the pure-water and clean-seawater spectra lend confidence to these results. As to dissolved organic matter in seawater, this is so highly variable in composition and concentration that this spectrum can only be considered as indicative of its effects.
James M. Sullivan, Michael S. Twardowski, J. Ronald V. Zaneveld, Casey M. Moore, Andrew H. Barnard, Percy L. Donaghay, and Bruce Rhoades Appl. Opt. 45(21) 5294-5309 (2006)
Light absorption coefficients for pure water, clean seawater and seawater with a moderate amount of organic matter in the wavelength range 171--2000 nm
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Adopted Absorption Coefficients for Pure Water at 23°Ca
Wavelength (nm)
Absorption Coefficient ()
Wavelength (nm)
Absorption Coefficient ()
171
255 000 (30000)
590
0.1354 (12)
173
93 000 (11000)
600
0.2232 (17)
175
38 900 (3100)
610
0.2653 (19)
177.5
13 000 (1500)
620
0.2760 (25)
180
4 600 (500)
630
0.2917 (27)
181
2 530 (70)
640
0.3106 (28)
183
885 (25)
650
0.340 (3)
185
360 (7)
660
0.410 (4)
187
146.4 (23)
670
0.439 (4)
188
84.3 (29)
680
0.465 (4)
190
34.3 (8)
690
0.516 (4)
192
12.9 (5)
700
0.624 (6)
194.5
3.84 (20)
710
0.828 (7)
196
2.68 (11)
720
1.236 (11)
198
1.15 (4)
725
1.496 (6)
200
0.602 (30)
729.9
1.97 (5)
205
0.234 (26)
739.6
2.79 (4)
210
0.160 (24)
759.9
2.87 (4)
215
0.137 (17)
770.4
2.82 (4)
220
0.101 (14)
780.0
2.69 (4)
225
0.075 (11)
789.9
2.46 (4)
230
0.070 (10)
800.0
2.24 (4)
235
0.065 (10)
825.1
2.62 (5)
240
0.057 (9)
850.3
4.21 (5)
245
0.042 (6)
875.7
5.04 (5)
250
0.059 (18)
899.3
6.35 (6)
260
0.052 (12)
924.2
9.85 (9)
270
0.044 (8)
939.8
18.3 (4)
280
0.0223 (33)
950.6
29.9 (7)
290
0.0094 (20)
959.7
44.1 (5)
300
0.0047 (10)
970.9
48.39 (34)
310
0.0024 (6)
980.4
48.4 (4)
320
0.0015 (4)
1000.0
40.69 (29)
330
0.0011 (4)
1050.4
16.69 (35)
340
0.00085 (26)
1098.9
18.6 (5)
350
0.00089 (33)
1126.1
29.0 (8)
360
0.00115 (33)
1139.0
56.0 (9)
370
0.00124 (33)
1149.4
97.5 (13)
380
0.00143 (29)
1171.0
121.6 (22)
390
0.00170 (30)
1199.0
127.8 (15)
400
0.00222 (27)
1298.7
129.6 (14)
410
0.00266 (32)
1319.3
179.2 (21)
420
0.00312 (30)
1340.5
270.7 (30)
430
0.00376 (31)
1358.7
357 (6)
440
0.0052 (4)
1381.2
603 (14)
450
0.0081 (5)
1388.9
884 (24)
460
0.0091 (5)
1400.6
1 710 (70)
470
0.0103 (4)
1408.5
2 240 (60)
480
0.0121 (5)
1428.6
3 030 (60)
490
0.0146 (5)
1449.3
3 270 (70)
500
0.0207 (7)
1474.9
2 950 (70)
510
0.0330 (12)
1501.5
2 150 (50)
520
0.0392 (13)
1548.0
1 211 (23)
530
0.0424 (12)
1602.6
757 (8)
540
0.0475 (14)
1700.7
587 (7)
550
0.0563 (18)
1798.6
916 (11)
560
0.0619 (10)
1858.7
1 283 (24)
570
0.0694 (11)
1879.7
3 190 (90)
580
0.0896 (12)
1901.1
9 900 (290)
1930.5
13 680 (300)
2000.0
7 700 (220)
1960.8
11 510 (240)
Numbers in brackets are uncertainties in the last or two last significant digits. The broken rules separate data from different sources; details are given in Sects. 2.A.1–2.A.4 both for values and uncertainties. Values are available in Data File 1.
Table 2.
Values of Wavelength and the Complex Part of the Refractive Index of Water Read from Fig. 9 of Painter et al. [34]a
Measurements at “near” 0°C.
From [37] (24°C).
Outlying value of deleted.
Outlying value of deleted.
From [36] (20°C).
From [38] (24°C).
Wavelength from [38].
From [35] (25°C).
Table 3.
Adopted Absorption Coefficients for Clean Seawater in the Wavelength Range 196–2000 nma
(nm)
(nm)
(nm)
196
16 300 (700)
490
0.0132 (5)
924.2
9.70 (9)
198
8 140 (320)
500
0.0187 (5)
939.8
18.0 (4)
200
4 450 (160)
510
0.0302 (6)
950.6
29.4 (7)
205
1 390 (60)
520
0.0387 (7)
959.7
43.7 (5)
210
542 (22)
530
0.0418 (8)
970.9
48.41 (34)
215
181 (7)
540
0.0470 (7)
980.4
48.4 (4)
220
57.6 (19)
550
0.0562 (6)
1000
40.57 (29)
225
21.7 (8)
560
0.0625 (10)
1050.4
16.44 (35)
230
7.35 (31)
570
0.0699 (11)
1098.9
18.4 (5)
235
3.14 (12)
580
0.0897 (12)
1126.1
28.6 (8)
240
1.24 (4)
590
0.1355 (12)
1139.0
54.7 (9)
245
0.226 (11)
600
0.2226 (17)
1149.4
96.5 (13)
250
0.124 (18)
610
0.2680 (19)
1171.0
122.0 (22)
260
0.052
620
0.2790 (25)
1199.0
127.5 (15)
270
0.058
630
0.2944 (27)
1298.7
126.2 (14)
280
0.048
640
0.3131 (28)
1319.3
175.0 (21)
290
0.050
650
0.342 (3)
1340.5
266.0 (30)
300
0.055
660
0.411 (4)
1358.7
353 (6)
310
0.046
670
0.441 (4)
1381.2
593 (14)
320
0.0231
680
0.466 (4)
1388.9
863 (24)
330
0.0073
690
0.515 (4)
1400.6
1 670 (70)
340
0.0072
700
0.620 (6)
1408.5
2 210 (60)
350
0.0071 (11)
710
0.822 (7)
1428.6
3 020 (60)
360
0.0056 (10)
720
1.229 (11)
1449.3
3 230 (70)
370
0.0046 (9)
725
1.489 (6)
1474.9
2 900 (70)
380
0.0037 (8)
729.9
1.95 (5)
1501.5
2 080 (50)
390
0.0032 (7)
739.6
2.80 (4)
1548.0
1 164 (23)
400
0.0032 (6)
759.9
2.89 (4)
1602.6
728 (8)
410
0.0031 (5)
770.4
2.84 (4)
1700.7
566 (7)
420
0.0032 (5)
780
2.70 (4)
1798.6
914 (11)
430
0.0036 (5)
789.9
2.46 (4)
1858.7
1 264 (24)
440
0.0044 (5)
800
2.24 (4)
1879.7
3 110 (90)
450
0.0068 (5)
825.1
2.59 (5)
1901.1
9 750 (290)
460
0.0076 (5)
850.3
4.21 (5)
1930.5
13 710 (300)
470
0.0089 (5)
875.7
4.99 (5)
1960.8
11 590 (240)
480
0.0109 (5)
899.3
6.26 (6)
2000.0
7 640 (220)
Numbers in brackets are uncertainties in the last or two last significant digits. Values in italics are “smoothed” values from Table 1 of [2] (see text). The broken rules separate data from different sources; details are given in Sections 2.B.1–2.B.3 for both values and uncertainties. Values are available in Data File 1.
Table 4.
Concentations of the Principal UV-Light-Absorbing Components of Clean Seawater [42]a
Ion
Concentration (mmol/L)
Species
Concentration (μmol/L)
554.6
232
28.69
187
1.875
31
0.856
0.4
From Tables 4.1, 9.2, and D.3 in [42]; values have been adjusted to a salinity of 34.7‰ and converted from mol/kg to mol/L where necessary, taking the density of seawater as [42].
Table 5.
Estimated Absorption Coefficients below 195 nm Wavelength for Clean Seawater
(nm)
(nm)
171
1370
185
450
173
1650
187
290
175
1800
188
230
177.5
1620
190
117
180
1280
192
61
181
1130
194.5
27
183
790
Table 6.
Adopted Absorption Coefficients for Gelbstoff at a Total Chlorophyll Concentration of
(nm)
(nm)
(nm)
190
0.39
300
0.08
450
0.009
192
0.38
310
0.07
460
0.008
194.5
0.37
320
0.06
470
0.007
196
0.36
330
0.05
480
0.006
198
0.35
340
0.045
490
0.005
200
0.34
350
0.039
500
0.0044
210
0.30
360
0.034
510
0.0038
220
0.26
370
0.029
520
0.0033
230
0.22
380
0.025
530
0.0028
240
0.19
390
0.022
540
0.0025
250
0.17
400
0.019
550
0.0021
260
0.14
410
0.016
560
0.0018
270
0.12
420
0.014
570
0.0016
280
0.11
430
0.012
580
0.0014
290
0.09
440
0.010
590
0.0012
Table 7.
Adopted Absorption Behavior of Phytoplankton at a Total Chlorophyll Concentration of
(nm)
()
(nm)
()
240
0.38
0.0040
430
1.00
0.010
250
0.42
0.0044
440
1.00
0.011
260
0.56
0.0059
450
0.92
0.010
270
0.60
0.0064
460
0.89
0.009
280
0.72
0.0076
470
0.84
0.009
290
0.66
0.0070
480
0.75
0.008
300
0.75
0.0080
490
0.66
0.007
310
0.66
0.0070
500
0.56
0.006
320
0.72
0.0076
510
0.45
0.0048
330
0.60
0.0064
520
0.38
0.0040
340
0.56
0.0059
530
0.33
0.0035
350
0.42
0.0044
540
0.29
0.0031
360
0.38
0.0040
550
0.25
0.0026
370
0.45
0.0048
560
0.19
0.0020
380
0.56
0.006
570
0.14
0.0015
390
0.66
0.007
580
0.13
0.0014
400
0.79
0.008
590
0.14
0.0014
410
0.87
0.009
600
0.14
0.0014
420
0.92
0.010
610
0.14
0.0015
Tables (7)
Table 1.
Adopted Absorption Coefficients for Pure Water at 23°Ca
Wavelength (nm)
Absorption Coefficient ()
Wavelength (nm)
Absorption Coefficient ()
171
255 000 (30000)
590
0.1354 (12)
173
93 000 (11000)
600
0.2232 (17)
175
38 900 (3100)
610
0.2653 (19)
177.5
13 000 (1500)
620
0.2760 (25)
180
4 600 (500)
630
0.2917 (27)
181
2 530 (70)
640
0.3106 (28)
183
885 (25)
650
0.340 (3)
185
360 (7)
660
0.410 (4)
187
146.4 (23)
670
0.439 (4)
188
84.3 (29)
680
0.465 (4)
190
34.3 (8)
690
0.516 (4)
192
12.9 (5)
700
0.624 (6)
194.5
3.84 (20)
710
0.828 (7)
196
2.68 (11)
720
1.236 (11)
198
1.15 (4)
725
1.496 (6)
200
0.602 (30)
729.9
1.97 (5)
205
0.234 (26)
739.6
2.79 (4)
210
0.160 (24)
759.9
2.87 (4)
215
0.137 (17)
770.4
2.82 (4)
220
0.101 (14)
780.0
2.69 (4)
225
0.075 (11)
789.9
2.46 (4)
230
0.070 (10)
800.0
2.24 (4)
235
0.065 (10)
825.1
2.62 (5)
240
0.057 (9)
850.3
4.21 (5)
245
0.042 (6)
875.7
5.04 (5)
250
0.059 (18)
899.3
6.35 (6)
260
0.052 (12)
924.2
9.85 (9)
270
0.044 (8)
939.8
18.3 (4)
280
0.0223 (33)
950.6
29.9 (7)
290
0.0094 (20)
959.7
44.1 (5)
300
0.0047 (10)
970.9
48.39 (34)
310
0.0024 (6)
980.4
48.4 (4)
320
0.0015 (4)
1000.0
40.69 (29)
330
0.0011 (4)
1050.4
16.69 (35)
340
0.00085 (26)
1098.9
18.6 (5)
350
0.00089 (33)
1126.1
29.0 (8)
360
0.00115 (33)
1139.0
56.0 (9)
370
0.00124 (33)
1149.4
97.5 (13)
380
0.00143 (29)
1171.0
121.6 (22)
390
0.00170 (30)
1199.0
127.8 (15)
400
0.00222 (27)
1298.7
129.6 (14)
410
0.00266 (32)
1319.3
179.2 (21)
420
0.00312 (30)
1340.5
270.7 (30)
430
0.00376 (31)
1358.7
357 (6)
440
0.0052 (4)
1381.2
603 (14)
450
0.0081 (5)
1388.9
884 (24)
460
0.0091 (5)
1400.6
1 710 (70)
470
0.0103 (4)
1408.5
2 240 (60)
480
0.0121 (5)
1428.6
3 030 (60)
490
0.0146 (5)
1449.3
3 270 (70)
500
0.0207 (7)
1474.9
2 950 (70)
510
0.0330 (12)
1501.5
2 150 (50)
520
0.0392 (13)
1548.0
1 211 (23)
530
0.0424 (12)
1602.6
757 (8)
540
0.0475 (14)
1700.7
587 (7)
550
0.0563 (18)
1798.6
916 (11)
560
0.0619 (10)
1858.7
1 283 (24)
570
0.0694 (11)
1879.7
3 190 (90)
580
0.0896 (12)
1901.1
9 900 (290)
1930.5
13 680 (300)
2000.0
7 700 (220)
1960.8
11 510 (240)
Numbers in brackets are uncertainties in the last or two last significant digits. The broken rules separate data from different sources; details are given in Sects. 2.A.1–2.A.4 both for values and uncertainties. Values are available in Data File 1.
Table 2.
Values of Wavelength and the Complex Part of the Refractive Index of Water Read from Fig. 9 of Painter et al. [34]a
Measurements at “near” 0°C.
From [37] (24°C).
Outlying value of deleted.
Outlying value of deleted.
From [36] (20°C).
From [38] (24°C).
Wavelength from [38].
From [35] (25°C).
Table 3.
Adopted Absorption Coefficients for Clean Seawater in the Wavelength Range 196–2000 nma
(nm)
(nm)
(nm)
196
16 300 (700)
490
0.0132 (5)
924.2
9.70 (9)
198
8 140 (320)
500
0.0187 (5)
939.8
18.0 (4)
200
4 450 (160)
510
0.0302 (6)
950.6
29.4 (7)
205
1 390 (60)
520
0.0387 (7)
959.7
43.7 (5)
210
542 (22)
530
0.0418 (8)
970.9
48.41 (34)
215
181 (7)
540
0.0470 (7)
980.4
48.4 (4)
220
57.6 (19)
550
0.0562 (6)
1000
40.57 (29)
225
21.7 (8)
560
0.0625 (10)
1050.4
16.44 (35)
230
7.35 (31)
570
0.0699 (11)
1098.9
18.4 (5)
235
3.14 (12)
580
0.0897 (12)
1126.1
28.6 (8)
240
1.24 (4)
590
0.1355 (12)
1139.0
54.7 (9)
245
0.226 (11)
600
0.2226 (17)
1149.4
96.5 (13)
250
0.124 (18)
610
0.2680 (19)
1171.0
122.0 (22)
260
0.052
620
0.2790 (25)
1199.0
127.5 (15)
270
0.058
630
0.2944 (27)
1298.7
126.2 (14)
280
0.048
640
0.3131 (28)
1319.3
175.0 (21)
290
0.050
650
0.342 (3)
1340.5
266.0 (30)
300
0.055
660
0.411 (4)
1358.7
353 (6)
310
0.046
670
0.441 (4)
1381.2
593 (14)
320
0.0231
680
0.466 (4)
1388.9
863 (24)
330
0.0073
690
0.515 (4)
1400.6
1 670 (70)
340
0.0072
700
0.620 (6)
1408.5
2 210 (60)
350
0.0071 (11)
710
0.822 (7)
1428.6
3 020 (60)
360
0.0056 (10)
720
1.229 (11)
1449.3
3 230 (70)
370
0.0046 (9)
725
1.489 (6)
1474.9
2 900 (70)
380
0.0037 (8)
729.9
1.95 (5)
1501.5
2 080 (50)
390
0.0032 (7)
739.6
2.80 (4)
1548.0
1 164 (23)
400
0.0032 (6)
759.9
2.89 (4)
1602.6
728 (8)
410
0.0031 (5)
770.4
2.84 (4)
1700.7
566 (7)
420
0.0032 (5)
780
2.70 (4)
1798.6
914 (11)
430
0.0036 (5)
789.9
2.46 (4)
1858.7
1 264 (24)
440
0.0044 (5)
800
2.24 (4)
1879.7
3 110 (90)
450
0.0068 (5)
825.1
2.59 (5)
1901.1
9 750 (290)
460
0.0076 (5)
850.3
4.21 (5)
1930.5
13 710 (300)
470
0.0089 (5)
875.7
4.99 (5)
1960.8
11 590 (240)
480
0.0109 (5)
899.3
6.26 (6)
2000.0
7 640 (220)
Numbers in brackets are uncertainties in the last or two last significant digits. Values in italics are “smoothed” values from Table 1 of [2] (see text). The broken rules separate data from different sources; details are given in Sections 2.B.1–2.B.3 for both values and uncertainties. Values are available in Data File 1.
Table 4.
Concentations of the Principal UV-Light-Absorbing Components of Clean Seawater [42]a
Ion
Concentration (mmol/L)
Species
Concentration (μmol/L)
554.6
232
28.69
187
1.875
31
0.856
0.4
From Tables 4.1, 9.2, and D.3 in [42]; values have been adjusted to a salinity of 34.7‰ and converted from mol/kg to mol/L where necessary, taking the density of seawater as [42].
Table 5.
Estimated Absorption Coefficients below 195 nm Wavelength for Clean Seawater
(nm)
(nm)
171
1370
185
450
173
1650
187
290
175
1800
188
230
177.5
1620
190
117
180
1280
192
61
181
1130
194.5
27
183
790
Table 6.
Adopted Absorption Coefficients for Gelbstoff at a Total Chlorophyll Concentration of
(nm)
(nm)
(nm)
190
0.39
300
0.08
450
0.009
192
0.38
310
0.07
460
0.008
194.5
0.37
320
0.06
470
0.007
196
0.36
330
0.05
480
0.006
198
0.35
340
0.045
490
0.005
200
0.34
350
0.039
500
0.0044
210
0.30
360
0.034
510
0.0038
220
0.26
370
0.029
520
0.0033
230
0.22
380
0.025
530
0.0028
240
0.19
390
0.022
540
0.0025
250
0.17
400
0.019
550
0.0021
260
0.14
410
0.016
560
0.0018
270
0.12
420
0.014
570
0.0016
280
0.11
430
0.012
580
0.0014
290
0.09
440
0.010
590
0.0012
Table 7.
Adopted Absorption Behavior of Phytoplankton at a Total Chlorophyll Concentration of
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